{"id":135,"date":"2026-09-27T14:55:27","date_gmt":"2026-09-27T14:55:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/illinoispardonlawyer.com\/?p=135"},"modified":"2026-08-31T15:01:08","modified_gmt":"2026-08-31T15:01:08","slug":"do-i-have-to-disclose-my-past-criminal-record-after-a-pardon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/illinoispardonlawyer.com\/index.php\/2026\/09\/27\/do-i-have-to-disclose-my-past-criminal-record-after-a-pardon\/","title":{"rendered":"Do I have to Disclose My Past Criminal Record after a Pardon?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

After a long and complicated process, you have obtained a pardon for your past crimes and cleared your name. Will you have to reveal your prior convictions when applying for work?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the most part, the answer is no.  A grant of a pardon or executive clemency is not easily given, and it is meant to give you a clean slate.  (Please note that if you do win a pardon, you will also want to apply for an expungement in the original county of arrest.) Even so, this is a thorny question.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Generally, once expunged, you do not have to reveal your past offences to most employers. But you may still need to do so for certain employment.  For one thing, local police agencies generally want to know everything about your past. Similarly, federal agencies tend to want full disclosure of any past problems.  This does not mean that they will rule you out as a potential employee, just that they want to know they can trust you.  Similar guidelines may apply in other areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even if you are expunged, it is impossible to guarantee that your past offenses won\u2019t still crop up on the internet.  News agencies may not be willing to remove your name from their past issues\u2019 police blotters. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nonetheless, obtaining a pardon and expungement can be a great help in advancing your career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00a0If you have questions about pardons or expungement, please contact Matt Keenan at 847-568-0160 or email matt@mattkeenanlaw.com<\/a>.<\/a>\u00a0 As an attorney, I can help you prepare your petition for the pardon and present you and your witnesses in your most favorable light.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Besides Skokie, Matt Keenan also serves the communities of Arlington Heights, Chicago, Deerfield, Des Plaines, Evanston, Glenview, Morton Grove, Mount Prospect, Niles, Northbrook, Park Ridge, Rolling Meadows, Wilmette and Winnetka.)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

After a long and complicated process, you have obtained a pardon for your past crimes and cleared your name. Will you have to reveal your prior convictions when applying for work? For the most part, the answer is no.  A grant of a pardon or executive clemency is not easily given, and it is meant … Continue reading Do I have to Disclose My Past Criminal Record after a Pardon?<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[8,10],"class_list":["post-135","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-criminal-record","tag-expungement"],"yoast_head":"\nDo I have to Disclose My Past Criminal Record after a Pardon? - Illinois Pardon Lawyer<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Generally a pardon and expungement give you a clean slate. 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